Kulutusarvotyö

Kulutusarvotyö, often translated as "consumption value work" or "use-value labor," is a concept in Marxist theory that describes the labor performed to create goods and services that directly satisfy human needs and desires. This contrasts with abstract labor, which is the labor measured by its contribution to the exchange value of commodities in a market economy.

In a capitalist system, the primary focus is on abstract labor because it is quantifiable in terms of wages and profits. However, the underlying purpose of this abstract labor is ultimately to produce use-values. Kulutusarvotyö highlights the qualitative aspects of production and consumption, emphasizing the utility and satisfaction derived from the final product or service.

Marx argued that while capitalism prioritizes exchange value, the social and economic system relies on the production of use-values. The labor that creates these use-values is essential for human survival and well-being. The distinction between kulutusarvotyö and abstract labor is crucial for understanding the contradictions within capitalism, where the drive for profit (exchange value) can sometimes overshadow the efficient and equitable production of goods that truly meet human needs (use-value). For example, labor spent producing food for immediate consumption is kulutusarvotyö, while the labor a factory worker expends to produce shoes that are then sold for profit is considered abstract labor, contributing to the shoes' exchange value.